Monarch News

The 20th annual Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration is about to begin. Children in the US and Canada are invited to create ambassador butterflies for students who live beside the monarchs’ winter sanctuaries in Mexico. Postmark deadline: October 9, 2015

Mexican students hold ambassador butterflies with El Rosario monarch sanctuary in the background.

Spring migration is almost complete. The population has now expanded from 3 acres of winter habitat in Mexico into 1 billion acres of breeding habitat in the US and Canada. How many generations will the monarchs produce this summer where you live?

February 10, 2015

February 5, 2015

Monarchs from across the continent are now clustered by the millions in a small region of Mexico. This year, half of the monarchs are concentrated in only one of the 12 overwintering sites. How does this year compare to previous years?

January 27, 2015

This year’s monarch population is second smallest ever, 80% below the historic average. There are 57 million monarchs compared to a long-term average of 300 million. Half of this year’s monarchs are residing in only one of the 12 traditional sites.

Monarch numbers seem to be rising!! But, one important point is to plant native, not tropical, milkweed, which stays lush into the fall, confusing the Monarchs. “Butterfly enthusiasts shouldn’t feel bad for planting tropical milkweed, monarch researchers say. But they should cut the plants back in fall and winter. Or even better, replace them with natives. There are native plant societies across the country that can offer advice.”

November 6, 2014

It’s official! The first colony — containing several thousand monarchs — was discovered in the Sierra Chincua Sanctuary on November 2, 2014. “Faithful to their cultural and ancestral tradition, the monarchs have begun to arrive in their overwintering palace in Mexico,” reports Biologist Felipe Martínez Meza.

October 31, 2014

“The first monarchs of the 2014-2015 overwintering season have reached their mountain home in México! At 6:35 pm this evening at full sunset, three monarchs were flying about in the core of El Cerrito Forest, likely preparing to rest for the night in the soft pines having just completed their long journey south.” —- Estela Romero, Michoacán, México. October 30, 2014.

October 30, 2014

The first monarchs are expected to reach their winter home any day! Traditionally they arrival by November 1st, Mexico’s Day of the Dead. “The arrival of the monarchs symbolizes our ancestors’ souls returning to Earth for their annual visit,” says Estela Romero.

October 23, 2014

After funneling across Texas for over two weeks, the monarchs are entering northern Mexico now and traveling the final 500 miles of their journey. Large concentrations are raising hopes for a population rebound.

October 9, 2014

October 2, 2014

After nearly two weeks of south winds, the leading edge of the migration hasn’t moved south of Kansas. To the delight of people watching, monarchs continue to come down from the north and are stacking up as they wait for a north wind.

September 18, 2014

September 11, 2014

People counted monarchs roosting by the hundreds, feeding by the dozens, and flying overhead at rates up to 16 monarchs per minute. Comparative counts reveal migration pathways — and are pointing to a larger population this year.

May 1, 2014

April 24, 2014

The monarchs from Mexico are nearing the end of their journey, and a new generation will soon take their place. The wings of butterflies that overwintered in Mexico are typically faded, tattered, or torn. Observers are watching for fresh-winged monarchs now, a sign that the next generation is appearing.

April 16, 2014

April 10, 2014

Following spring milkweeds, monarchs are quickly spreading across their southern range. The population that occupied only 1.65 acres of winter habitat have now expanded into over 200 million acres of breeding habitat.

February 6, 2014

The announcement arrived at 10 pm today: “They first monarchs are here! They were majestically flying over our town, not looking in the least affected by the very bad weather we have had in the last days.” Estela Romero, Angangueo, Michocán, México

September 23, 2013

Monarch Premigration Migration – What is it? Have you seen any? They could be laying eggs in your yard today! Click here for a fascinating article from Wild Ones.

Click here to link to A Way To Garden.com’s article, A Precarious Time for Monarchs and Their Migration.

September 13, 2013

UK/LFUCG Arboretum Director Marcia Farris and Gcky President Joanna Kirby at the newly certified Monarch Waystation at the Arboretum

September 9, 2013

Follow this link to an article about monarch butterflies. It was written by Lexington’s Wild Ones Chapter President’s son, Gabriel Popkin. He has done a great job of evoking a world made much poorer by the lack of this beautiful creature. However, as Gabriel tells us, if we keep planting milkweed, we can help. Let’s do it!